Brand Ambassador Spotlight | Monisa Dobbins

January 1, 2018

This week’s ambassador spotlight shines a light on Monisa Dobbins of Monisa J. Photography.Read on to find out more about Monisa, see some of her work, and find out which bluebird chic strap is her personal favorite! (And for the next two weeks, her pick will be available at a discounted rate in the shops.)

Hi there! My name is Monisa Dobbins of Monisa J. Photography! I’m a natural light photographer specializing in capturing authentic moments of families, couples, and anyone awesome enough to book a session! Photography has always been a love of mine, but just recently I turned this hobby into a business. I was born and raised in the soo-iet state of Arkansas (woo pig!). However, being an army wife, home is currently in the gorgeous country of Italy. My Nikon and Sigma lens are always with me! If it’s not clients I’m capturing, it’s adventures with my handsome husband and my sweet 4 month old! As long as I have life’s essentials (the good Lord, family, & my camera) my heart is bursting at the seams! And food. Food makes me happy, too.

How long have you been a photographer?

When I was about 12 years old, I asked for a Polaroid camera for Christmas! As soon as I opened it, I couldn’t stop taking pictures of everything around me. I still remember the excitement from shaking the big squares waiting for the image to appear. When I was in high school, I loved taking pictures using my Coolpix camera. During that time, I had no idea what quality editing software looked like so Picnik was where I loved to play. I still laugh looking at some of those images uploaded to Facebook. I’ve been capturing moments of families and couples for a little over 2 years.

How has your photography evolved over the years?

It wasn’t until 2 years ago I really decided my photography was something I truly wanted to evolve. I purchased a DSLR and began learning the basics of shooting in manual mode. I did sessions for a year, but as my harshest critic I wasn’t stoked about my work. About 8 months ago, I decided I wanted to get serious about photography as a business so I hired a mentor. This was the turning point in my photography and the best decision I could have made. Kaitlyn Blake of Kaitlyn Blake Photography was sweet, extremely knowledgeable, and super flexible around my at-the-time 9 week old. Now living in Italy, my business has grown and I’m feeling like that 12 year old again. It’s so rewarding watching my clients and friends’ reactions as they respond after viewing their gallery!

What advice do you have to other women who are thinking of starting their own businesses?

We are our harshest critics. The best advice I can give someone is to just go for it. You may not think you have what it takes or if your products are even that good, but I promise there’s someone out there looking for exactly what you’re offering. Be patient with your craft. Admiration > Comparison. Don’t compare your work to others. I guarantee you the once were in the same position you are in, contemplating whether or not they can really do it. Everyone’s journey is different.

What is the best part of being a photographer?

The best part of being a photographer is being able to capture moments for families to cherish. I try to steer clear of posed portraits. I love being able to capture the romance between couples and the wild chaos of families! I also love show those soon-to-be mamas how stunning they truly are!

What kind of camera(s) do you own and what role does it play in your life?

I currently own a Nikon D750 which is used for every session as well as my travels and adventures around Italy. My instax mini was my favorite camera, but alas it was lost in the move and I’m bummed about it. Hopefully my hubby is tired of me complaining about how I miss it and surprises me for Christmas 🙂

What’s your favorite thing about your bluebird chic strap?

While summer is my favorite season, fall is a close second. I love absolutely everything about fall, and my Pumpkin Spice strap captures that perfectly! It’s so unique. PLUS the strap being super soft and keeping me warm is definitely a bonus.

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